The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them – Proverbs 11:3
A notable moment in the Man of Steel occurs during a pivotal conversation Jonathan Kent has with his young son. He tells Clark, who had been adopted as an infant, about an important future decision. When said: “You’re not just anyone. One day, you’re going to have to make a choice. You’ll have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be.” This excerpt from the 2013 movie came to mind when I felt prompted to choose between behaviors that would ultimately cultivate future patterns.
Who do you see in the mirror? A Jonah or an Esther? I had been given two important examples in the Bible of resistance and obedience to help guide my decision. Jonah and Esther were both given high-stakes assignments, which they chose to address differently. Jonah allowed his self-righteous indignation to cause him to rebel against God’s directives. However, Esther’s fear of her Jewish people being killed led her to do what was required. Consequently, Esther’s belief that she could make a difference overshadowed her concerns for self-preservation.
As I consider which choice to make, I’m reminded that emotions are like children who require the guidance of faith to control them. Left unmanaged, they can lead to resisting what’s right and abiding what’s wrong.